Ships Passenger Lists to Australia & New Zealand 1850-1860

Between 1788 and 1900 over 1,000,000 people immigrated to Australia. Most of them were from the British Isles, but some were from Europe and Asia. Before 1900 there were 4 classes of immigration:

Convicts sentenced to Australia for various periods of time, depending on the crime. Usually from British Isles or colonies

Bounty immigrants chosen by Australian colonists to come from the British Isles.

Assisted immigrants came through the financial assistance of the government, organizations, or wealthy individuals.

Paying passengers came through their own means.

Australian immigration records for the first three classes almost always give each individualís name, age or date of birth, place of birth, trade or occupation, physical description, marital status, and number of children. Passenger lists for paying immigrants usually list only names.

Over 160,000 convicts (most
from the British Isles) were sent to Australia. The British Government first sent convicts to New South Wales,
Australia in 1788, after the American Revolution. Because of their own population growth, NSW refused to accept
convicts after 1842. Convicts were sent to Tasmania (formerly Van Diemens Land)
in 1803. Western Australian accepted male convicts only from 1850 to 1868.

The National Archives of Ireland has a searchable index database on the Internet for transportation records of Irish convicts sent to Australia between 1788 and 1868

Search the Australian Convict Records

Over 160,000 convicts (most
from the British Isles) were sent to Australia. The British Government first sent convicts to New South Wales,
Australia in 1788, after the American Revolution. Because of their own population growth, NSW refused to accept
convicts after 1842. Convicts were sent to Tasmania (formerly Van Diemens Land)
in 1803. Western Australian accepted male convicts only from 1850 to 1868.

The vessel Ann Gales is labelled as "Persons on Bounty Ships arriving at Port Phillip", the Ann Gales appears to have arrived at Port Jackson, Sydney 12 July 1840, and did not arrive at Port Phillip.

The vessel Cataraqui was shipwrecked in 1845. Although the passengers are all listed in the Index, there was only one survivor, Solomon Brown.

The vessel India was burned at sea in 1841. All surviving passengers were transferred to the Grindlay listed in volume [4/4814]. One passenger from the India, Mr Patterson, died at sea, however he is listed on the Grindlay.